The amount of buzz surrounding the Carmelo Anthony situation could wake the dead. The Knicks currently are the main trade suitor who’s interested in acquiring Melo, but apparently Denver is asking for a steep price tag.

Allegedly, the Denver Nuggets want the Knicks to give them Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Eddy Curry’s crazy contract, and a future 1st round draft pick in exchange for Melo and Chauncey Billups. Seriously Denver? Are you sure you don’t want to go for Amare Stoudemire as well?

That is comparable to some of the pipe dream transactions my friends send me in my fantasy basketball league. Well, maybe not that bad. Someone did offer me Jonny Flynn for Carlos Boozer afterall.  Well, it is in the same proximity of insanity level to be sure.

If I am the Knicks I would do this: nothing. The Nuggets are and will be screwed once Melo leaves.

Without trading Melo, Denver loses completely, so they have to trade him. Besides that, his individualist style of play lately is killing team morale.

The bottom line: Melo wants to play for New York.

There’s no point to give up the future by losing standout players like Felton and Galinari, when they can keep them, let Eddy Curry head out to greener pastures, and then sign Carmelo after he plays part of a season wherever he is “rented out” for the duration of the 2010-11 campaign.

It’s quite a huge gamble that Melo will like where he ends up if it’s not New York. Perhaps Mark Cuban can pull the string to get Melo to Dallas, and maybe Melo will like it, but other than that I cannot see Melo signing anywhere else other than New York.

And if Carmelo does decide to play somewhere other than New York, the Knicks can chase after Chris Paul, whom is undoubtedly a far better pieze of the puzzle for the Knicks.

Troy Murphy has asked the New Jersey Nets to trade him after the Nets announced they will not be attempting to trade with the Denver Nuggets for Carmelo Anthony. This is the same reason that Murphy has been “excused” from the team.

It comes as no surprise that Murphy wants out. The strong-rebounding-long-range-threat power forward has not been able to see the floor this season, even after he has fully recovered from all his physical ailments.

The call was made by Avery Johnson so that lottery pick Derrick Favors could see the floor, gain experience, and with the upsurge of Kris Humphries, there were no minutes for Murphy to play a spot in the rotation.

Murphy has a lot to offer a team. He represents a $11.9 million expiring contract and can also rebound and shoots the three quite well. If no trade suitor is found prior to the trade deadline, it’s highly likely a buyout will be sought and arranged so Murphy can try to join a new team via free agency.

Look for a team like Portland, with a injury riddled frontline, or perhaps a marginal playoff bound team, looking to push themselves over the hump, like the Houston Rockets, to take a look at Murphy before the deadline.

After the Lakers manhandled his former Cleveland Cavaliers team winning by 55 points, LeBron James could not leave his former team and fans alone. LeBron took jabs at his former team, hiding behind his twitter account while saying:

“Crazy. Karma is a B****. Gets you everytime. It’s not god to wish bad on anybody. God sees everything!”

This is the latest act of stupidity from LeBron, and really shows that LeBron simply does not understand that we are no longer buying his act. How many times can you continuously say things like this and expect to get away with it?

LeBron is becoming the champion at doing something stupid, and then later saying he regrets it, etc. He needs to realize that the best way to be a professional athlete is to be professional, and to keep these thoughts to himself.

It’s just sad when you see someone as talented as James continue to self inflict his image and fall further from being the NBA’s poster child and become something more or less like the NBA’s bastard child.

Why does LeBron want to be the bad guy now? Is this his new image? LeBron, the bad boy? Maybe he has cornered himself to the point where he feels  as if he has no other choice but to embrace this new image?

Are the Miami Heat, led by LeBron James, turning into the bad boys of the new decade?

O.J. Mayo and Tony Allen of the Memphis Grizzlies got into a physical altercation aboard the team jet after tempters rose during a card game named “Boo Ray.” Allen had won an undisclosed sum of cash from Mayo, and for reasons unknown, Mayo kept taunting Allen until Allen lost his temper and struck Mayo.

According to the Yahoo! Sports report, “Boo-Ray” is the same game that caused the altercation between Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton.

What exactly is the purpose of this game, and why it has now led to two publicized altercations between  enraged teammates aboard charter planes. Don’t these guys make enough money to swim in piles of it? Is there really a reason to fight over a few thousand dollars when you are making millions?

On another note, Mayo must have been in outer space while Arenas was being suspended for the the remainder of the 2009-10 season. Or is he just seriously mentally challenged?

You have to be one or the other to not know about how fighting a teammate over a card game aboard a plane can lead to severe consequences.

Perhaps no disciplinary action will be issued for this time, because Mayo mysteriously developed bronchitis or some other BS story as to why Tony Allen played in his place, but don’t be surprised if David Stern attempts and plots to take away gambling from all league flights in order to further polish up the image of the NBA.

Mayo's temper is flying out of control.

Mayo was already experiencing a turbulent season with his on court performance, and causing commotions will not do anything to help his trade value. There are several rumors floating around pegging him on the move to Minnesota. David Kahn must be loving this news, as he and every other GM can now use this incident to gain leverage in negotiation talks.

As far as I know, Tony Allen is a stand up guy. I haven’t heard or read anything bad about him on or off the court. Admittedly I do not seek out Tony Allen by name when reading NBA related news, but I can say, unlike Mayo, he has no trail of turmoil surrounding him dating back to his collegiate career whereas the same cannot be said for Mayo.

It seems like Mayo might have a growing case of psychological baggage, and that is never a good thing for an young player starting his career in the NBA., especially one as talented as Mayo has the potential to be.

Upon discovering that former All Star center Yao Ming will miss the rest of the season with yet another injury, the Houston Rockets have officially closed the book on the Yao Ming Era and have begun shopping his expiring contract around the league.

This move all comes in light of the fact that the Rockets have played well without Yao. With Yao and Aaron Brooks both sidelined, the Rockets still managed to succeed and win with a surprise breakout year from Kyle Lowry, whom played nothing less than brilliant as the starting point guard, leading Houston to a respectable 15-15 record.

It seems like the Rockets’ roster is packed with players whom can step it up on any given night. Shane Battier is always good for back breaking threes, but on certain nights you will get a gem performance from the likes of Chuck Hayes, Chase Budinger, or old man Brad Miller will put his savvy veteran game on display.

If the Rockets can dispose of Yao’s contract and get something, say another center, or better yet someone young and talented, in return the Rockets should dump Yao as soon as possible.

In Houston it is clearly time to end the old, and replenish the roster with more young talent.

At this point, Yao is on the outside looking in, looking for some hope.

The Rockets have been rumored to be in discussions with Sacramento, but that is bunk because Daryl Morey asked for DeMarcus Cousins in the swap, which has proven to be an automatic deal breaker.

Perhaps if Houston includes Aaron Brooks in the deal they could sway Sacramento into a deal. Brooks is undersized but  a valued shooter who can put up huge offensive lines in addition to provide deep threat scoring.

Kyle Lowry has proven to Houston he can indeed shoot during games and is a stronger defender than Brooks. Lowry has more size than Brooks, and he strengthens the Rockets defensive presence because he can defend the leagues bigger point guards,whereas Brooks clearly weakens the team. Selling Brooks high is not a bad idea since Lowry has proven his worth.

Regardless of where Yao is traded, the odds are he will never play again in the NBA. Yao is a proud man and will do everything to prepare himself for a comeback, wherever that might be, but in reality he possesses peanut brittle for bones and there’s just no way he can come back without being another year slower and removed from the game.

It was reported today that the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and New Jersey Nets have agreed on a three-way deal sending Sasha Vujacic and a first round draft pick to New Jersey, 2009 #11 overall fist round pick Terrance Williams to New Jersey, and Joe Smith to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The New Jersey Nets have secured 5 first round picks now, and can offer Denver a much more enticing trade offer for Carmelo Anthony than the New York Knicks. It remains to be seen if Carmelo will bite in terms of an extension if the deal happens, but Russian oligarch Mikhail Prokhorov will likely step in for the hard sell.

Even if the Nets give up a couple first round draft picks, Derrick Favors, and the expiring contract of Troy Murphy, the Nets will still have soem decent pieces in place to build around Carmelo: Devin Harris and Brook Lopez, and a handful of first round picks to fill in the gaps.

Even if the Melo trade doesn’t come to fruition for New Jersey, look for someone to take Murphy’s expiring deal, and the Nets will have options moving forward with a wealth of first round picks.

It will only be a matter of time before head coach Avery Johnson places Sasha Vujacic in his doghouse. If an ultra-laid-back Phil Jackson cannot find a use for him, how can a high-stung coach like Johnson put his services to use?

No get no ring for riding the pine in New Jersey Sasha..

Sure Vujacic hits threes, but his self serving nickname “The Machine” is better amended and rebranded as “the Foul Machine” based on how he plays. The guy is a head case who sincerely believes he has never committed a foul. Perhaps he will replace Troy Murphy’s role as the player at the end of the bench.

So Vujacic’s role will remain the same, he will just have to learn to embrace losing while being unable to do anything about it. Fun times for Sasha. At least he gets to marry Maria Sharapova.

Terrance Williams has a new lease on life joining the Houston Rockets. He will have a chance to develop his game under Rick Adelman, one of the more savvy coaches in the league with a reputation for squeezing the most out of his talent. Williams possesses the tools but seems to be lacking focus at this stage in his career.

If Williams can get his mind right, and adjust to the Rockets system, he has the potential to make this deal continue to make Darryl Morey’s genius as a GM grow.

Knicks sharp shooter Danilo Gallinari has been recently seen living it up in on the New York scene with Gossip Girl actress Michelle Trachtenberg. The fledgling celebrity couple have been seen cruising night clubs, and Trachtenberg has recently been seen sitting courtside sporting the Rooster’s jersey.

I know she's no Serena........but.......

Now the gossip shifts from the show, and takes center stage at Madison Square Garden. Perfect timing too. With Tony Parker and Eva Longoria (minus-Parker) Splitsville, it allows Gallo to step up into the role of NBA player dating actress.

You will get no argument from me that Eva Longoria is definitely more famous and better looking, but you will get the argument that Trachtenberg has much more mileage in her tank than Longoria. I also give the the edge to Trachtberg in the category of overall acting ability.

Galinari will try to avoid two large distractions during home games.

Good work Rooster, hopefully the New York Gossip Girl lifestyle won’t interfere with any on court success or chemistry. Better leave that drama to the television show.

On another note, Greg Oden is sitting around somewhere, knee elevated, covered with ice, pondering how he can access Knicks star Danilo Galinari to find out the latest spoilers for upcoming episodes.

It is clear that the Nuggets intend to trade Carmelo Anthony prior to the February trade deadline. It is also no secret that everything hinges on whether or not he will sign a contract extension.

If Melo signs, more viable trade options will present themselves to Denver. If not, a short list of franchises will likely still attempt to acquire the star small forward and immediately focus to seduce him into signing a long term deal with their franchise.

The oldest, and yet most constantly resurfacing rumor, has Carmelo Anthony heading to New Jersey in exhchange for the combination of Derrick Favors, Devin Harris, and Kris Humphries.

Gone baby gone!

If this deal does happen, Denver can also kiss Chauncey BIllups goodbye. Billups will undoubtedly make a demand to be moved to a team with a chance at contention, rather than stick around while Denver assimilates “New Jersey Nets 2.0.” Following this logic furthermore raises the following questions for the Denver Nuggets to answer:

• Where can Chauncey be sent to, and what can they get in return?
• If you can trade Billups, What about Kenyon Martin?
• Can you retain Nene, or will he be the next to make demands?
• Will Denver finally be able to rid themselves of J.R. Smith by packaging him into the deal?
• If they acquire Devin Harris, what will this mean or Ty Lawson’s development?

This is no easy task for Denver’s management to undertake, but there is absolutely zero doubt that this is their only option. It’s also safe to assume that there will be some sort of multi-team deal involving shipping Billups elsewhere.

I can see Devin Harris being shipped out to a third party so the Nuggets can bring in more youth via the draft, and also leave the starting point guard position open for Ty Lawson.

I see Denver attempting to retain Lawson, Favors, Nene, Afflalo, and every other young player with a rookie contract, opting to trade away anyone from fan favorite Chris Andersen on down.

Folks, I am talking about Denver having a major reconstructive procedure to this Denver roster. Imagine the Nuggets are a drug lord who must go into hiding to avoid being slain, needing an entire new face and identity, hiring the worlds best plastic surgeon to make him anew.

That is how serious the Nuggets makeover is going to be, and if you are a member of the Nuggets faithful, your new personal slogan will have to preach patience above all else.

Brandon Roy informed the media recently that he no longer has any meniscus remaining in either of his knees. This came after the Blazers played the Lakers and Ron Artest decreed to the media after the game: “I’ve played against Brandon Roy a lot of times. He wasn’t himself.”

After reading this, I immediately asked myself: Does this mean Roy has any game left in his knees? He has already had his knee drained multiple times this year, and countless other times during his career.

In total Roy has had 4 knee surgeries during his career, with two per knee. Two of his surgeries occurred as a Blazer; one procedure in 2008 and another procedure in 2010. That is a lot of surgery to have done at the age of 26. The

Roy missed significant time last year, and forced his way back into the playoffs, where he was blatantly not at his regular level of play, and the Blazers were ineffective and not long for the playoffs.

My primary concern now is Brandon Roy might not be long for the NBA. This is devastating news considering the failure of Greg Oden and the fact that Roy has a max deal contract and might not be able to play it out.

If Roy’s injury gets any worse the Blazers roster and cap room might crippled equivocally as Roy’s knee.

Roy will have to take medicine for the remainder of his career in order to reduce and monitor the swelling in his knees. In the short term of his life, he might be able to play, but the side effects of these anti inflammatory medicines force Roy into being monitored by doctors to insure his liver and kidney functions are not damaged.

Roy has had 2 prodedures on each of his knees.

I have pondered what a meniscus injury might mean to a player’s career regarding Chris Paul’s knee, and the same applies now to Roy, but even Roy’s scenario is worse as his knee has zero meniscus remaining. There is no existence of a degenerative condition that will gradually lead to bone on bone contact in Roy’s knee. Roy’s knee is currently bone on bone. Oh yeah, and let me reiterate that Roy has had 4 surgical procedures to his knees. Bad situation.

The former Rookie of the Year and three time NBA All Star whom the Blazers have relied heavily on during offense sets, designed strictly for Roy to capitalize on his ability to go one-on-one, will have to reinvent his game to remain effective for a legitimate chance at a prolonged NBA career.

Boston Celtics star Shaquille O’Neal has undergone many concurrent roles during his NBA career. He has been a rapper, an actor, a honorary member of the police (that was until, of course, he asked Kobe how is ass tastes one time too many, which immediately thereafter his status was revoked), but his latest role as a computer hacker might be elevating O’Neal into a new level of legal trouble.

O’Neal is being sued for allegedly hacking into a former employee’s computer to frame him due to the fact that his former employee possesses dirt on him. Shaq is basically trying to “go gangster” and put the former employee behind bars before any damaging details make their way into the public spotlight.

If I don't like what I read, I'll hack in and change it.

Ironically, the employee, Shawn Darling, is a computer hacker whom  O’Neal originally employed to mop up his messy and sometime expensive affairs by retrieving and extracting messages that O’Neal dim-wittingly sent.

So basically, if we look at this carefully, Shaq tried to out-hack his original go to “hack-for-Shaq” employee.

Does anyone else deem this as unwise as I do?

O’Neal attempted to plant child pornography on Darlng’s computer in order to incriminate the hacker, who already has a criminal record. Oh yeah, that was also one of the reasons why Shaq hired Darling in the first place. Darling told radaronline.com “that was why he hired me.”

Here is the laundry list of allegations levied against O’Neal:

• Shaq hacked into the voicemails and phone systems of Darling and Vanessa Lopez, a mistress who is currently suing O’Neal. He deleted Lopez’s messages and changed her password.
• O’Neal used his law enforcement contacts, both active and retired, to obtain restricted information about one of his mistresses, Alexis Miller, while he was involved in a legal battle with her.
• Shaq threw a personal computer holding much of this evidence in the lake behind his home.
• Shaq conspired with active law enforcement as well as ex-members of law enforcement to frame Darling for a criminal offense and destroy any evidence that Darling might have against O’Neal.

It gets uglier and messier as things go on during the radaronline.com story. Realistically, this will come down to Shaq’s legal team cleverly paying Darling a substantial lump of cash appealing enough to dissuade Darling to drop his charges and never air out Shaq’s gigantic, dirty laundry.

Score this one up as a severely expensive fix after a severely failed attempt of a “Hack-by-Shaq.”